Apparatus for straightening metal bars.



I.L.HUGHE& APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING METAL BARS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, 1909.

4 BHEETS-SHEBT 1.

wn'nassss Patented Nov. 19,1912.

I. L. HUGHES. APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING METAL BARS.

APPLICATION FILED APB..26, 1909. v 1,045,031 Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

2 WITNESSES Muck, dan 4M I.L.HUGHE& APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTBNING METAL BARS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, 1909. 1,045,08 1 A 8 WWW! mum INVENTOR Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I I. L. HUGHES. APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTBNING METAL BARS.

APPLICATION FILED APILZB, 1909. I

Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Wm wm v trade as tire-iron, which has a very I En swims Isaac anions noenns,

Be it known that 1, Isaac Lsmon'r Hoonns, a citizen of the United States, and

resident of Youngstown, in the county of .Mahonin and State of Ohio, have invented a new an useful Apparatus for Straightening Metal Bars, of which the follow ng is a specification.

My invention relates to the straightening of metal bars, rods and similar rolled metal 5 sections. I

The object of my invention 18 to prov de apparatus of improved construction having novel means for straightening the bars by which irregularities caused by the rolling operation are removed without damage to the'surfaces of the finished shapes and the shapes'are' put into the desired straight condition.

Heretofore in straightening such materials, particularly what is known lg thie ar smooth finish, it has been found that the skin formed on the materials during the rolling operation easily becomes cracked and broken when being straightened. When the skin or surface of such materials'becomes cracked or broken, the material is defective and must be disposed of at a loss. Such mate rials have been straightened in bumpers or gag presses in which a gag is placed between the metal and. the reciprocating arm of the gag press at the desired oints 1n the length of the bar. In straightening bars in this manner, but one bend or curve is put in the shape at each stroke of the moving ram of the gag press and the shape is supported at but two points on one side and by the gavg at a single point on its opposite side. ith such apparatus the cost of straightening the materials is very high and the straightening operation is slow, the output of mills manufacturing such shapes being limited to practically the amount of materials which can be straightened.

My invention consists in providing a series'of sets of multiple straightening rollers having the oppositesets of rollers arrangedso as to be ad ustable with relation to each other, the rollers in each multiple set also being adjustable relatively to one another.

The invention also-consists in arranging and adjusting the rollers in such manner that the sha e being straightened is ennui-- taneously su' jo'cted to bending in 'aplurality Specification of mm 2min. application filed A ril as, 1909. ems: No. roasts.

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of reverse curves and is'supportedat a pluof points on theatre of each curve in the shape is bent. I

The invention further consists in providing the series of sets of straightening rollers havingthe opposing sets of rollers arranged i to straighten successive bars or other shapes {which vary slightly in size without crushing or distorting the bars of the largersizes'. The mventionstiil further consists in pro i ralit l which viding means for ad'usting the rollers with relation to one; anot er and meansfor adijnst ng the'opposing sets of rollers and also grollers by which at least one of the rollers lot each-set is positively driven while in any o'zt its adjusted positions. I Referring to the accompanying drawings Iforming part of the specification, Figure 1 ;is a side elevation showing one form of apparatus constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan of the same; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the iapparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fi 4 is a sectional side elevation on the line iIV-IV of Fig. 2 showing the arrangement iof the spur rivi'ng gears and the idler :gears; Flg. 5 is a'perspective View showing 'a detail of the adjustable guides forming part of the apparatus; Fig. 6 is a diagram- ;in accordance with my invention, a fiat bar 'ers while being straightened. In the drawings the numeral 2 designates the housings of the straightening machine in which the rollers 3, 3" and 3 forming one multiple set are adjustably secured, the shafts of these rollers being carried in suit able bearings 4 which are movably mounted in the windows of the housings 2, and preferabl the rollers are overhung as shown in the rawings. r

4:, 4* and 4 represent the rollers forming one of the lower series or sets of multiple rollers and 5, 5 and 5 represent the multiple rollers forming another set of the lower series of multiple rollers.

By reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that two single rollers 6 and 7 of the upper series of rollers are mounted in their windows in the housings in the same manner as the 3, 3 and 3 and that single rollers matic side elevation showing the sets of roll zere as adjusted with relation to each other ;in improved means for driving the multiple being shown in its position between the rollv as to cause the screw shaft 13 in the journal 8 and 9 of the lower series of rollers are provided to support the outer end portions of 5 2 are the guides 10 which serve to hold andguide the baror other shape 11 duri its passage between the sets of rollers the straightening apparatus. Therollers 6, .7, 8 and 9 are secured respectively on the ends of the shafts 6, 7, 8 and 9. The rollers 3", 3 and 3 forming onemultiple set are secrued respectively on the shafts 3, 3 and 3; The multiple set of rollers 4, 4 and 4 are secured respectively to the shafts 4, 4 and 4 while the rollers 55, and 5 forming one of the lower sets of multiple rollers are secured respectively on the shafts 3,3 and 5'. Each shaft of the rollers in the upper series is journaled in bearing blocks or boxes 4 which. are vertically adjustable in the windows of the housings 2'. Projecting vertically into the screw threaded openings in the top of each of'these blocks isv the threaded end of a screw shaft 13. The up- 25 per ends of the screws 13 are journaled in a continuous housing cap or cap bar 14, which 7 extends longitudinally over the top of each of the housings so as to close the to of the windows in the housing. Instead 0 having thecontinuous cap harasshown, a separate cap for each Window may be used when so desired. Mounted on the upper end of each of these screw shafts 1,3 is a sprocket wheel 15, the wheels'on the opposite housings being connected by sprocket chains 16 so as box 4 on one end of each shaft to rotate with thescrew shaft in the journal box 4 on the opposite end of the same shaft. --Theupper end of each of the screw shafts 13 on one housing of the apparatus is provided with a hand'wheel 17 by which .the'rollers are adjusted vertically b. the operation. Each shaft 13 not provi ed with a hand wheel, is provided with a squared ortio'n 18 by which it can be adjusted indhpend- 'ently, the sprocket chains 16 being disconnected at such time.

- The shafts of the central rollers 4", 5" in .othe lower series; of sets-ofrollers are also provided with journal boxes 19 supported so as to be adjustable in the windows of the housing in which they are mounted in the same manner as those for the upper series of rollers. Preferably the rollers-8 and 9 and the rolle'rsfP, 4, fiand- 5 are journaled in the same horizontal plane. I The horizontal axis of the centralroller 4 and 5 in each of the twb lower sets of multiple rollers is slightly above the plane of the axes of the other'rollers' in these sets. The rollers 6 and 7,3 and 3 of the upper series ofrollers are in-approximately the samehori long sweeping reverse curves.

belt with any suitable shaft 20 is provided with a spur-gear 22 which meshes with spur gears 23 and 23 located on the shafts 4' and 5. Also mountrollers is adjusted slightly below the horizontal plane of the axes of the other rollers in this set or sets.

By slightly advancin of each of the sets of rollers toward the op osing sets of rollers, the bar. is caused to curved in a long sweep while passing throughthe rollers andin reversely :oppo+ site -d1rect-ions.- As shown in the drawings,

the material ispa-ssed through these rollers j from right to left while bein straightened and is first curved upwar y and then downwardly and then again upwardly in Preferably the sweep of the curves gradually diminishes toward the exitend of the machine ;and the bars run-out straight from the last and the metal is supported at a lurality of f points on the curved surface of t e bar contacting with each series of multiple rollers. By'subjecting the metal to bending in alternately opposite directions, kinks and 'other irregularities present in the metal afterthe the central roller completion of the rolling operation are removed and the material will be delivered in a straightened condition while the surface of the metal shapes will not becracked or otherwise damaged. 1

. Secured on the shaft 20 which is mounted in-suitable bearings on the housings 2- 15a. driving pulley 21 which is' connected b a prime mover. he

ed in suitable bearings in thehousings 2 are the shafts 24, 25,,- 26, and 27,-each having an idler gear 24, 25', .26 and 27.. The shafts gears 8"and 9 while the shafts 4 and 5 have spur gears 28 and 29.

.Pivotally mounted between the housings 2 'by one end onshafts 4 4, 5 and 5 are the .palr of knees or bentarms 3O one'of these arms being on each side of the idler inions .8 and 9' are also provided with driving employed to-trans'mit motion from t e bottom rollers to the top series of rollers. The upper ends of the bent arms '30 are pivotally connectedby the pins or shafts 31 to one end of the links 32, the opposite ends ofthe'links 32 being pivoted to the shafts 3, 3, 6 or 7 for the upper series'of rollers. L

Mounted on' the shafts 4, 4, 5 and 5 are the spur drivin and drive the 1d erpinions 34'on the pins 34". The pinions 34 also mesh with and drive the-idler pinions 35 on the shafts 31,

the pinions 35 also meshing with the driving spur pinions 36 on the shafts 3", 3, 6and 7 for the top series of rollers.

- 'By reference to Fig. 4 it' will be seen that the pulley shaft 20 is provided witha spur e 2 w h is n mesh .with similar spur inions 33 which mesh with v stead of the grooved'rollers shown, the conggfrs 23 and ee on the shaft rand 5*.

e spur gears 23 and 23 in turn mesh with which are mounted on the shafts 8 and 9" for the rollers 8 and 9. Also mounted on the shafts 4 4, 5 and 5 are the spur gears 33, each of which meshes with an idler gear,

34 'on the bent arms'3'0. The idler gears 34 also mesh with idler gears 35 which are also mounted on thebent arms 30 and the gears 35 also mesh with driving spur gears 36 v which are mounted-on the shafts 3 3, 6

and 7f for'the rollers 3, 3, 6 and 7.v This arrangement of gearing permits of the upper rollers 6, 3, 3 and 7 being positively driven in the opposite direction to the lower 'rollers 8, 4, 4, 5*, 5 and 9.

By means of the idler gearing on their re speetive arms the rollers on the driving shafts'of the upper series are arranged so as to be adjustable vertically toward and away from the lower series of sets of rollers without disengaging the gears, the gearing always being 1n mesh in all positions of these rollers.

It will be readily understood from the foregoing description that at least part. of the rollers in each series are positively driven in the right direction to feed the shafts being straightened through the passes formed by the grooves in the opposing rollers. r

The advantages of my invention result from the provision of staggered multiple sets of rollers inwhich one set of multiple rollers is adjustable with relation to the others and in which at least one roller of each set is adjustable toward and away from the shape being straightened independently of the other rollers in the same multiple set,

so that the shape may pass through the rollers in a long sweeping curve and by which the rollers are arranged to contact at a plurality of points on the opposite sides of the reverse curves formed on the shape during the straightening operatibn.

Obviously, should it be necessary to I straighten a shape in two directions, the materi'a'l can be straightened in one direction and then passed through the straightening machine and be straightened on the opposite sides of the shape to those straightened by the first operation.

Modifications in the construction and "arrangement'of the apparatusmay be made without departing from my ,mvention. In-

tour of the grooves may be changed to suit dle roller may vary in size from the others in the'same set, in this way makingthe desired bend in the bar. The apparatus is a plicableto'other uses than straightening t e bar of rectangular cross-section shown in the drawings, as for instance to flanged shapes including T-head rails, angles, I- beams-and channels, and, other changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. Apparatus for straightening metal bars and the like comprising a series of sets of rollers, each set staggere with respect to the other'sets, one roller of each set being adjustable relatively to the others in the same set, and means for rotating said rollers.

2. Apparatus of rollers, each set staggere with respect to for straightening metal bars and the like comprisin a series of sets 35 f the other sets, one roller of each set being adjustable relatively to the others in" the same set, and means for rotating at least part of said rollers.

3. Apparatus for straightening metal bars and the like comprising a series of sets of rollers, each set staggered with respect to the other sets, one set of rollers being adjust able toward the opposite set, one roller of each set being adjustable relatively to the others in the same set, and means for rotating at least one roller in each set.

i. Apparatus for straightening metal bars and the like comprisin a series of sets of rollers, each set staggere with respect to the other sets, one set of rollers being adjustable toward the opposite set, one roller of each set being adj ust-able relatively to the others in the same set, and means for rotating said rollers.

5. Apparatus for straightening metal bars and the like comprising a series of sets of rollers, each set staggered with respect to the other sets, one roller of each set being adjustable relatively to the others in the same set, and intermeshing spur gearing for driving the rollers.

6. Apparatus for straightening metal bars and thelike comprising a series of sets of rollers, each set staggered with respect to the other sets, the staggered sets engaging opposite sides of the shape being straightened, and means 'for rotating the r0llers.-

7. Apparatus for straightening metal bars and the'like comprising a series of sets of rollers en aging one side of the materials side of the materia s, the set of rollers en-sleast rollers engaging one side of the materials being straightened, and a plural ty of setsof rollers en aging with the opposite aging) with the one side of the materials eing etwen the sets of rollers on the op,-

posite side thereof, at least one roller in each set of rollers being adjustable relatively. to the others in the same set, and means for rotating the rollers.

9. In. a paratus'for straightening metal bars and t e like, the combination with a set of rollers engaging with one side of the materials being straightened, of two sets of 0 posing rollers engaging the opposite si e thereof, the set of rollers on one side being intermediate the opposing sets on -the opposite side of the materials.

10. In a paratus for straightening metal bars and t e like, thecombination with a set of rollers engaging with oneside of the materials being straightened, of a plurality of setsof opposing rollers en aging the opposite side of the materials, t e set of roll-' ers on one side of the materials being intermediate the opposing sets of rollers on the opposite side thereof, and means for adjusting the rollers on one side toward and of the materials, and means for rotating at least part of said rollers.

12. Apparatus for straightening metal bars and the like comprising a series of sets of rollers engaging opposite sides of the materials being straightened, each set being cessivel rollers.

7 sta red with re's tothe other sets, the ing arran ed to contact ro ers in each set with the materials at a lura ityof points between the end rollers o the adjoiningesiets on the opposite side of the materials straightened.

13. Apparatus for straightening metal bars an the like comprising a series of sets of rollers, a plurality of rollers in at least part of the sets, and the sets of rollers being disposed successively in staggered relation on opposlte sides of the pass formed between the rollers.

14. A paratus for straightening metal bars an the like comprising a pluralityof sets of rollers, the sets being dlsposed successivel .in staggered relation on opposite sides 0 the pass formedbetween the rollers and the points ofcontaot on the rollers of each set being disposed in the arc of a circle.

15. Apparatus for straightening metal bars and the like comprising a plurality of sets of rollers, the sets being disposed sucin staggered relation on opposite sides 0 the pass formed between the roll- 'ers, and the peripheral points of contact on at least one set of rollers being disposed in the arc of a circle.

16. Apparatus for straightening metal \bars and the like comprisin a series of sets of rollers, each set staggere with respect to the other sets, at least one set of rollers being adjustable toward the opposite set, one ro ler of each set being adjustable relatively to the others in the same set, and means for positively rotating at least part of said In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

ISAAC LAMONT HUGHES.

Witnesses:

H. G. R. BENNETT,

RAY MOLA Q 

